2015 06 23 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:10 p.m.
by Chairperson Wright.
PRESENT: Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Vice Chair Wilkinson
ABSENT: Commissioner Bettencourt and Chairperson Wright
STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager
Gabriel Perez, Associate Planner Jay Wuu, and Executive Assistant
Monika Radeva
Commissioner Blum led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Speaker: Ms. Neeta Quinn, La Quinta, CA - introduced herself, provided the
Commission with information on "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Proposal" from the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and spoke on items related to
Agenda 21, United Nations Sustainable Development.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Blum/Fitzpatrick to approve
the Planning Commission Minutes of June 9, 2015, as submitted with the following
correction on page 2, paragraph 1, line 6:
Commissioner Fitzpatrick asked to replace the word proposed with existing.
AYES: Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Commissioners Bettencourt and Wright. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 JUNE 23, 2015
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2015-0001 submitted by the City of La Quinta
proposing to amend Title 9, Section 9.150.060, Spaces Required by Use, of the La
Quinta Municipal Code to allow for the a reduced number of required parking spaces
for properties within the Village Commercial Zoning District. CEQA: exempt from
environmental review pursuant to Section 15061 (B)(3), Review for Exemptions of the
CEQA Guidelines.
Associate Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a
copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department.
Commissioner Blum asked staff about the City's current parking requirements and
stated he was concerned that by reducing them in the Village the City would be doing
a disservice to both the merchant and the consumer. This could result in
discouraging potential future development. He suggested the City form a parking
benefit district, the cost could be shared by all businesses that would benefit from it.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick asked if staff is planning to monitor the effects of the
proposed reduction in parking requirements.
Community Development Director Johnson noted that there had been a strong
interest from current business owners in the Village as well as future developers to
review and revise the existing parking requirements. Staff recently brought this
matter to City Council and received direction to proceed with the revisions. He said
the City would like to encourage a pedestrian -scale in the Village. The Village is the
only area where fee can be paid in lieu of providing parking. The proposed interim
parking requirements are intended to encourage development in the Village. Staff is
in the process of completing a build out analysis for the Village as part of a project
Environmental Impact Report. Staff will be identifying new parking standards for the
Village, which should replace the interim requirements by the end of June, 2016. He
noted staff does not have any plans to monitor peak parking use during this interim
period.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick asked if this subject matter was being looked at holistically
on a city-wide scale as it was integral to creating the pedestrian -walkable mixed-use
community envisioned for La Quinta. She noted she was in support of encouraging
development in the Village and would like to see similar approach applied to the
Highway 111 corridor as well, if applicable. Staff replied it was as part of reviewing
parking standards city-wide.
Vice Chair Wilkinson asked if existing businesses would benefit from the proposed
parking reduction and how the June 2016 deadline will apply for a business in the
process of securing a permit. Staff replied businesses would only benefit if they were
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 JUNE 23, 2015
to expand or change the current use and explained the application of the deadline
with regards to the approval process.
General discussion followed regarding the current and possible future parking
requirements and the build -out analysis for the Village.
Vice Chair Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 8:06 p.m.
Public Speaker: Ms. Neeta Quinn, La Quinta, CA - introduced herself and said she lives
in north La Quinta and would not be able to walk to the Village, she enjoys walking
around Old Town, but she needs to drive there and be able to park. She noted that if
adequate parking in the Village is not provided she would simply elect to go
elsewhere.
Vice Chair Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 8:07 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made by Commissioner Fitzpatrick to adopt Resolution 2015-
007 recommending City Council approval of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2015-
0001 as submitted with staff's recommendations.
Motion failed due to the lack of second.
Vice Chair Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING REOPEN at 8:09 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Fitzpatrick/Blum to
continue Public Hearing Number 1 to the next regularly scheduled Planning
Commission meeting on July 14, 2015. AYES: Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick, and
Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Bettencourt and Wright. ABSTAIN:
None. Motion passed.
BUSINESS SESSION - None
CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL - None
COMMISSIONER ITEMS
1. Discussion of the Commission's Summer Schedule.
The Commission continued this item to the next regularly scheduled Planning
Commission meeting on July 14, 2015.
2. City Council meetings attendance schedule for fiscal year 2015-2016.
3. Report on City Council meeting of June 16, 2015.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 JUNE 23, 2015
4. Commissioner Blum is scheduled to attend the July 7, 2015, City Council meeting.
DIRECTOR'S ITEMS
Community Development Director Johnson introduced Planning Manager Gabriel Perez to
the Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Blum/Fitzpatrick to adjourn this meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion passed. AYES:
Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners
Bettencourt and Wright. ABSTAIN: None.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, xecutive Assistant
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 JUNE 23, 2015